Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.

ON APRIL 12, 2023, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 972, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise present law relative to corporal punishment. Under present law, a teacher or school principal may use corporal punishment in a reasonable manner against a pupil for good cause in order to maintain discipline and order within the public schools. However, teachers, school principals, or other school personnel are prohibited from using corporal punishment against a student who has a disability, unless an LEA's discipline policy permits the use of corporal punishment and a parent of a child who has a disability permits, in writing, the use of corporal punishment against the parent's child. <br /> <br /> This amendment adds that, prior to the administration of corporal punishment against a student, the student's teacher or school principal must document in the student's educational record that they have: <br /> <br /> (1) Acted to address the student's behavior; <br /> <br /> (2) Provided consequences to the student to address the behavior; <br /> <br /> (3) Consulted with the student's parent or legal guardian about the student's behavior; and <br /> <br /> (4) Considered the need to conduct an initial evaluation to determine whether the student has a disability in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, state law, and the state board of education's rules. <br /> <br /> This amendment also provides that if, as a result of the evaluation provided in (4), a student is found to have a disability, then corporal punishment may only be administered against the student if authorized in accordance with the present law described above. <br />